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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Thursday, 20 August 2015. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
When you think of Woodstock you immediately think of the iconic 18th century Blenheim Palace and its beautiful grounds. But the Woodstock Deanery is a varied one, stretching from the outskirts of Oxford all the way over to parts of rural Oxfordshire.
The Revd David Tyler, the Rector of the Hanborough and Freeland Benefice, has been the Area Dean for two-and-half years. He is excited that some of the churches are growing, with one even bursting at the seams with people on Sundays. David came to Hanborough from the Leicester Diocese. He had experience of the area from a placement during his training at Oxford's Wycliffe College.
"It's unusual for someone to go back to a church where they were placed as a student. I have been here eight years as Rector now and I have seen quite a turnover of clergy in the Deanery. I think I'm the third longest serving clergy person. Eynsham has grown over the years and has a paid youth worker," he says.
And plans for new housing in Eynsham, Hanborough and Woodstock will change the nature of the Deanery. Here in Hanborough we have a church plant in a school that's bursting at the seams with 100 people coming each week. With some parishes bordering Oxford and others close to Banbury and Witney, the Deanery is an unusual collection of parishes.
However, David says it works because of the way the people get on so well. "The clergy chapter works well and while the Synod has challenges, generally it is a very positive place," he says.
David has been looking particularly at how the Synod shares the good things that are going on in churches, to help other parishes to do the same.
"We have been talking about how Freeland has just produced a giving leaflet and the Bartons have been engaged with the school. People are just doing good parish ministry, trying to grow their churches or at least engaging with the young people in their villages."
Vital statistics:
Area Dean: David Tyler
Lay Chair: Elizabeth Whittle
Clergy: 18
Churches: 24
Benefices: 7
Minnows at Westcote Barton
A NEW family service entitled 'Minnows' is giving children the chance to learn more about Christianity in Westcote Barton Church. The Revd Graeme Arthur started the service following the success of Tiddlers, the mid-week service for toddlers.
The names are based on the Icthus (fish) symbol for Christianity.
"The children light the candles and ring the bells to help us get ready for worship. Many of their parents are fully involved in the children's activities," said Graeme.
"Tiddlers takes place in a hall in the middle of the village and Minnows has moved the children to taking part in a service in one of our medieval churches. It's helping take some of the families further in their faith. "
The Blenheim connection
THE Revd Canon Adrian Daffern, Team Rector of the Blenheim Benefice is also Chaplain to the Duke of Marlborough and provides pastoral care for his family, the Blenheim Palace community, and those who live in the surrounding park - which is a small parish in its own right.
"The Park/Palace are extra-parochial, like many estates, hence taking the late Duke's funeral, doing family baptisms and weddings, and tons of Churchill stuff this year especially," he says. Adrian is also involved with the Marlborough School, a Church of England secondary school in Woodstock.
The school celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. The Woodstock Benefice is also home to Campsfield House immigration centre and Oxford University's Begbroke Science Park.
Everest and the power of God
MORE than 75 children joined in the Holiday Bible Club in the Hanborough Benefice this year. The club was led by 20 adults and 20 teenagers and the theme was Everest.
Children learned about the power of God, through songs, drama, crafts, snacks, DVDs and games. Children raised £158 for a Bible Society project to provide Bibles for people in Ethiopia.
They also took part in the Bible Society's Pass it On competition, which invited youngsters to re-tell Bible stories in their own words.
Hanborough's new Permanent Deacon
SUE Spankie was involved in Witney's Churches Together from 2009 to 2014.
Sue began her training in 2012 for ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. Since her ordination in July, she is now a Permanent Deacon in the Benefice of Hanborough and Freeland where she has been during her training.
Being called to the Permanent Diaconate Sue sees her ministry in particular as reaching out to the unchurched, building relationships in the community with specific interests in working with children, young people, families and the elderly. The former deputy head-teacher had already been working hard on ecumenical projects, including visits from the Footprints Theatre Trust, which saw performances at 13 schools in West Oxfordshire.
"All of the children had the same input which provided common ground for conversation and we linked in with the ecumenically-run holiday club, in Witney," says Sue.
Moving from Nottingham, Sue had taught at Madley Brook County Primary School where she was invited to teach RE. The curriculum for RE is broadly Christian, whilst encompassing teaching on other faiths. Sue managed the RE curriculum, teaching through the use of a timeline cross-referencing history and faith.
This allowed the children to ask questions, understand other faiths and respect others while knowing that Sue was a Christian. Working with the curriculum in this way allowed conversations to take place with others of all faiths and none, as well as opening up conversations with parents including those from the Muslim community within the school where we seek to find common ground and respect.
"Interfaith work in Witney is very different," says Sue. "I had worked with ethnic communities in Nottingham, which were diverse and larger."
Now Sue is excited about her new role.
"It's so easy to be stuck in our churches and not to look out. Part of the Deacon's role is encouraging people out into the community, working with them and welcoming people in. Dialogue is incredibly important in the building of relationships in our society which can be increasingly insular."